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Charles Levin (from left), Tom Etchart, Brad Rabuchin and Tom Buckner of the jazz band Coda play at Squashed Grapes in Ventura on Thursday night. On other nights, Coda has participated in a community music pilot program, performing where people who might not otherwise be exposed to live music can hear them.
TROY HARVEY/SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Charles Levin (from left), Tom Etchart, Brad Rabuchin and Tom Buckner of the jazz band Coda play at Squashed Grapes in Ventura on Thursday night. On other nights, Coda has participated in a community music pilot program, performing where people who might not otherwise be exposed to live music can hear them.
TROY HARVEY/SPECIAL TO THE STAR

The Ventura Music Festival is taking it to the streets, dispatching musicians to places where residents might not otherwise enjoy the healing powers of music.

“Music is one of most healing things there is," said Nuvi Mehta, artistic director of the Ventura Music Festival. "This has been much studied and ballyhooed.”

He said one of the goals of the Ventura Music Festival’s new community music pilot program is to bring concerts featuring local artists to the Ventura County community.

“This is one of the things we’re hoping to do a lot more of," Mehta said. "We’re hoping to be connecting music and hospitals more. When people are in suffering circumstances, music can help erase that. It’s amazing when we take music into a community setting what happens.”

The program began in December, funded by a $15,000 grant from the Elaine and Albert Borchard Foundation.

“I approached the Borchard Foundation and asked if they would consider a small donation to link those to whom the access to music is going to be the most problematic,” said Susan Scott, executive director of the Ventura Music Festival.

The program targets anyone in the community, especially the very young and old, who might not otherwise be able to attend a concert, Scott said. But with a number of programs already in place geared to young people in schools, the initial offerings of this program have focused on seniors.

So far, concerts have featured the jazz group Coda, led by Charles Levin, of Ventura, and performances by cellist Virginia Kron, of Ojai. They've been held at three facilities run by the Housing Authority of San Buenaventura.

Stephanie Spampanato, community services manager for the Housing Authority, said the concerts at Buenavida Senior Village, Chapel Lane Senior Apartments and Vista Del Mar Commons all received enthusiastic responses.

“It was heartwarming to watch the residents," she said. "They know music. They reconnected with their younger years."

She called the reaction "incredible."

"For them, it was an emotional connection," she said. "One of the biggest things a few of them said was how appreciative they were. They said it shows people care about them enough to bring the opportunity to them."

According to Mehta, the wealth of talent in Ventura County makes it easier to find musicians willing to work for a small fee and bring music to various nontraditional venues.

“We have many wonderful artists in our backyard — artists from around the world who have chosen this beautiful place to live," Mehta said. "With such good players available we can incorporate them into more local outreach programs.

"There’s this incredible resource we have," he added. "It’s a wonderful way to unite the community around the music. Many artists have a love of performing for people, but we’re not trying to have artists do it for free. That’s not the point.”

Levin, who started Coda about 10 years ago, said the band performed pieces from the great American songbook.

"We played a couple of jazz classics," he said. "This is primarily listening to music. They just listened rapturously. It was: total joy.”

The Community Music Pilot program will continue through 2018 with free programs offered as long as the grant lasts, Scott said.

Mehta said the goal for the Ventura Music Festival is to reach and build the community through concerts.

“What music is all about — what the festival is about — is community," he said. "Music strengthens us psychologically and emotionally. Music is all about community. That’s the glory. It’s the antidote to cellphone isolation. You can download music on your phone. But hearing it in a group and sharing the experience is so helpful today.”

Mehta said that from the earliest times, music was about bringing a community together.

"The goal of the series is to bring people together through that powerful magical thing that is art,” he said.

About the Ventura Music Festival

What: A series of concerts featuring artists from around the worldWhen: July 12-15 and July 20-22.Information: 805-648-3146 or online at venturamusicfestival.org/.